Building on its extensive terrestrial network — connecting over 4,000 networks across more than 60 locations worldwide — DE-CIX is now exploring how to extend this high-performance interconnection model into space. The goal is to enable low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations and other space-based assets to interconnect seamlessly with each other and with terrestrial digital ecosystems.
“We’ve spent 30 years building the backbone of the Internet here on Earth,” said CEO Ivo Ivanov emphasized that interconnection should follow networks wherever they are created. “Now, we’re bringing that same neutral, high-performance interconnection model to the next layer of digital infrastructure — above the clouds and to the stars.”
The concept of placing data centres in orbit, once the stuff of science fiction, is gaining momentum among technological visionaries, including British astronaut Tim Peake. While such implementations may still be years away, efforts to optimize space-based communications are already underway. As part of the European Space Agency’s OFELIAS project, DE-CIX is collaborating with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to explore how laser-based satellite communications can deliver higher speeds than traditional radio links. These optical satellite links, however, present unique challenges such as cloud cover and atmospheric interference, necessitating smarter protocols and algorithms to ensure reliable data flow.
While OFELIAS focuses on improving data exchange between satellites and ground stations, DE-CIX’s broader Space-IX initiative aims to create an interconnection ecosystem that unites space assets with terrestrial networks at scale. This groundwork is essential for establishing what could become the world’s first Internet Exchange in orbit, seamlessly integrating space and ground infrastructure.
“Satellites are becoming integral to the digital supply chain — whether providing broadband to underserved regions, powering AI applications, or enabling orbital analytics,” Ivanov explained. “To support these developments, we need an architecture that unites space and Earth into a single, seamless ecosystem. This collaboration marks the beginning of that effort.”
DE-CIX’s interest in space extends beyond research. In August, DE-CIX India became the country’s first Internet Exchange platform to integrate Starlink into its interconnection ecosystem. The company’s global Space-IX program provides satellite operators like Starlink with interconnection solutions that anchor orbital networks to terrestrial infrastructure—particularly for latency-sensitive applications.
With the space economy projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, DE-CIX recognizes the critical importance of ensuring that orbital networks do not develop in isolation. Instead, they must interconnect intelligently with terrestrial networks, cloud services, and content providers to realize the full potential of global broadband, IoT, remote sensing, and AI applications.
